Johnson's cabinet split over gambling on pre-Christmas election

Prime minister awaits decision of EU27 over extension before next move

Boris Johnson's cabinet is divided over how to proceed with Brexit, as the prime minister faces the stark choice of pressing ahead with his deal or gambling his premiership on a pre-Christmas general election.

After an inconclusive meeting with Jeremy Corbyn on Wednesday morning in an attempt to agree an acceptable timetable for parliament to consider the bill, the prime minister told MPs at Wednesday's PMQs that he was awaiting the decision of the EU27 over whether to grant an extension before settling his next move. The EU's decision is unlikely to come before Friday.